Machine employed in canning operations.



G. G. GLASS.

mcnmn EMPLOYED m GANNING OPERATIONS.

APPLIPA'IION TILED JULY 22 1995.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

WITNESSES; 71. 9%

G. G. GLASS.

MACHINE EMPLOYED IN GANNING OPERATIONS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22,1905.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 9176 jfw 2? m TTORIVEV-S' G. G. GLASS. MACHINE EMPLOYED IN GANNING OPERATIONS.

APPl-YflATIOlI FILED JULY 22.1905.

909,582. Patented Jan. 12. 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

G. G. GLASS. MACHINE EMPLOYED IN GANNING OPERATIONS.

APPLIUATIOH TILED JULY 22,1905.

Patented J an. 12, 1909.

Jinx/11in,

GEORGE G. GLASS, OF HOOIESTON, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE EMPLOYED IN CANNING OPERATIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12', 1909.

Application filed July 22, 1905. Serial No. 270,78Q.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, GEORGE G. GLASS, a citizen of the United States, residing at lloopesiou, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines Employed in Canning Operations, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines employed in canning operations; and pertains in part to a novel mechanism for supporting the cans While the latter are passing through the machine, and for causing said cans, irrespective of their height, to properly register with the parts of the machine engaging the upper ends of the cans, the chief object of the invention, so far as it relates to this feature, being to render the machine practically universal in respect to its capabilit of handling cans of varying sizes.

Another object of the invention, which is more particularly related to can-filling machines is to provide an improved mechanism for automatically actuating the measuring and filling devices that supply the goods to be charged. into the cans, dependent for its operation upon the presence in the machine of an empty can properly positioned to receive its contents.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for accurately and automatically centering the cans as are received into the machine from the ingin mechanism.

With these and other minor objects in view my invention consists meats hereinafter described and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying rawings I have illustrated my improvements as embodied in a can-filling machineof the rotary type; the drawings illustrating so much of a rotary filling machine as is essential to a clear understanding of my present improvements; but it will be understood that those features of the inventiom pertaining to the novel mechanismfor supporting the cans and raising them into proper position for cooperation with other parts of the machine, as well as fol centering them when received into the machine, are equally capable of use advantageously in machines operating in other ways upon the cans, such, or instance, as capping or soldering machines.

in the improves vertical bearings 16 andextremity of its arms or spokes can-charg Referring to the drawings,-Figure l is a top plan view of one side of the machine. with certain parts omitted for the sake of clearness; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the rotary carrier and a superposed funnel guide, with the can-supporting devices shown in side elevation; hig. 3 is' a detail view in vertical secton through the syrup measuring and filling tank, showing a can 1n operative position to receive a charge; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the manner in which the actuation of the measuring and filling device is omitted when a can is not present in rc ceiving position; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 3;.Fig. 6 is a top plan view oi the measuring and filling mechanism, illustrating an intermediate positioirot' the parts; Fig. 7 is aside elevational view of a feedingin mechanism and, in connection therewith, a device for centerin' the cans it: the) are received by the mac 1111c; and Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the parts shown in 7.

Referring to the drawings, 15 may dc--i mate a ortion of the stationary frame of the mac inc, which is provided with central 23 and for a central upright shaft 1?,and with a horiztmtal lit-aring 18 for a driving shaft 19. Mot ion is imparted b the hitter to the central vertical shaft 17 y bevel cars 20 and 21, the latter being splined on s aft 17.

22 designates a stationary ring constituting an element of the rigid frame of the machine, the center of which is coincident with the axis of the vertical shaft 17. Superposed on the bearing 23 and keyed to the shaft 17 is the hub 24 of a spider 25-havin an outer ring 26. Also lteye to theshaft 1 above the spider 25 is the hub 27 of another spiidcr 28, which latter curries at the outer ing devices, 29 designed to engage at their lower ends the upper ends of the cans 30 and direct the contents into the latter when said cans'are' raised thereto by the mechanism hereinafter described. be present illustration of the charging devices 29 is conventional only, said parts being intended to represent any suitable or convenient means in the general nature of funnels serving to receive a measured uantity of the goods and syrup. to be fill into the cansf 16mm one or morosupetpgged filling tanks such as the syrup tank 31 as they pass beneath the latter, and deliver the same into the cans.

Supported upon the stationary annular member 22 of the frame and disposed above and parallel with the latter throughout a ortion of its circumference is a can receiving and discharging plate 32 (Fig. 1), said plate being longitudinally slotted inwardly of both ends for a short distance, as shown at 32 and 32", for a purpose hereinafter described. oted at intervals at 64 to the under side fthe rotary ring 26 are a series of vertically'oscillating levers thatare offset in a vertcml plane between their ends, each of said evers comprising an outwardly extending arm 65, an intermediate portion 66, and an inwardly extending arm 67. The upper ann 65 terminates in a rounded plate or disk 68, on the upper face of which, eccentrically thereof, is a vertical. can-contacting lug (39 having a rounded or convexed upper surface, as shown. The inwardly extending arm 67 of the lever carries a weight 70, while the outer end of said arm carries a vertically journaled roller 71. On the upper edge of arm 65 is 3. lug 72 adapted at times to contact a stop-lug 73 on the under side of ring 26 to limit the upward swing of the arm 65. Secured to and projecting radially from the upper face of the ring 26' (Figs. 1 and 2. are a series of short arms 74 carrying at t eir outer ends V-shaped members 75 which serve as pushers to move the can all the end of the plate when first received thereon, and also, in conjunction with a'device hereinafter described, serve the function of centering devices to properly position the cans on entering thennnchine and preliminary to their engiwcmcnt by the lugs 69 of the counterweigited can-su porting levers. On the inner edge of tie stationary ring 22 is formed or secured a curved cam-track 76. which track is substantially co-extensive and co-terminous with the receiving plate 32, as shown by dotted lines inFig. 1, and is provided with inclined or SlOPlll" ends 76 and 76, said track being adapted to be engaged by the rollers 71, as the can-supporting levers travel over that portion of their path lying opposite the receiving and discharging late 32. g r

()p )osite tiat end of the plate 32 having the slot 32' will b located a suitable can feeding-in mechanism and,operating in conjunction therewith, a device which cooperates with the pusher-s '75 inaccurately centering the cans as they are received by the machine so that theymay be properly "ngngetl and raised by the underlvln cansupporting and carrying levers. in Figs. 7 and 8 l have illustrate a suitable form of f t-= in -in mechanism and can-centering means; and referring thereto, 33 designates a feed chute arranged normally to the periph ry of the plate 32 and havin a longitudinally slotted bottom wall in w iich operates an endless conveyer 34 provided on i s outer surface with a series of flights 3 adapted to engage the cans and move them into the machine. superposed on the chute: is a can-spout 36, of skeleton form, through which the cans are fed in succession into the chute. Cooperating with the flights 35 in feeding the lowermost can from the stack is a rotary sweep 37, the arms of,which engage the cans from behind andmove them toward the machine simultaneously with their engagement by the flights 15. The sweep 37 mu conveniently be driven from the main driving shaft 19 of the machine through bevel gears 38 and 39, countershaft 40, and intermeshing gears 41 and 4-2, the latter being fast on the shaft 37' of the sweep.

Rotatably mounted in a vertical bearing 43 formed in a radial projection of the ph'ite 32 is a vertical shaft 44, on the up r end of which is rigidly mounted the ha 45 of a star wheel 45. The shaft 44 and the star wheel carried'thereby are supported vertically by a coil spring 46 interposed tween the lower end of the hub 45 and the 11 per end of the bearing 43;-the lower env of shaft 44 being threaded to receive a nut 47 and lock nut 48, whereby said shaft is prevented from undergoing vertical displacement, and whereby also the de ree 0t frictional rub between the ends o the spring and the, members contacted thereby ma be varied and adjusted ,to efl'ect the desire degree of resistance to the free rotation of the star wheel. The star wheel is so locat i that, as it is turned, its arms successively project across the path of travel of the cans as the latter move oil the plate 32, the cans being carried successively into contact with the successive arms of the star wheel b the pushers whereby, owing to the frictional resistance to rotar movement which the arms of the star w eel exert, said cans are pressed into equal engagement with both surfaces of the pusher, whereby the can is accurately centered by and between three contacting points located at substantially etfitab distances about its circumference. T is insures an accurate positioning of the cansso that the bottom of each can will be engaged atitsexact center bythe In of the underlying pivoted can-carrier. s the can moves over the slot 32*,the roller 71 of the un.

ported at its ends by and between the counlrrneigghlcd lever constituting its carrier and the lower end of the tilting device .29, as well as aupporied laterally on its rear side, relatively to its direction of travel by the pusher travels around with the rotary carrier ring 2(5, during which travel. the substance with which it is to be filled is grad nally t'ed thereinfi'i through the runnelmeinher 2%). its soon as the filled can approaches the op nmitc end of the plate. 32, the roller it ride: up the incline 76, thereby withdrawing the carrier lug (59 from the slot 3:2" and depressing the same beneath the plane of the plan- 33, leavin the can supported on the latter, over whic'i it is moved by the pushrr 75 until brought into the field of action of a discharging conveyor conventionally illustrated at 7T Referring now to the inea'suring and filllug tank 31, and the means whereby a predetermined quantity of the syrup or liquor with which the goods are put up is delivered thereby only in case an empty can beneath the same to receive the charge, 7 5 designates a vertical shaft. stepped at its lower cud in a vertically aopistable bearing 79 and jour naled in a bearing 80 carried by an upright 81 and pas-sin" through a stalling box 82 in the bottom ot the tank 31. Keyed on the upper end of this shaft is a measuring device comprising a pair of upper and lower dic ti? and 84, respectively, having a series of depending and upstanding telcscopinp cylinders 85 and 8t), respectively. The )ottoin wall of the tank ill has a single aperture 87 located directly above the path of travel of the funnels 2H, and sin-mounting the rotary measuring device is a noirrotary valve-disk 88 guided vertically upon the upper end of shaft 78, as well as upon vertical posts 89 mounted in the base of the tank. The disk 88 *arrics a pipe 90 that is located directly over the opening 87 of the base, which pipe serves to break the vacuum when a charge of syrup is to be (lo-- livered to the hopper or funnel 22). The upper valve-dislti 88 is also provided with a series of apertures 91 so disposed that when one of the telescoping measuring cylinders is registering with the discharge opening 87 and vacuuiii-breaking pipe 90. the other three cylinders will be in registration at their upper ends with the openings 91, and will consequently be taking in a measured quantity of the syrup,-which latter is contained in the tank 31 up to a level above that of the valve-disk 88. By adjusting the hearing member 79 in which the lower end of the shaft To is stopped, the telescoping members and 86 which create the measuring chambers can be adjusted inwardly or outwardly l I l l. l l t l ally extending arms 78 is a star wheel having' a plurality of radi 212, corresponding in number and relative disposition to the mensuring cluunbcra ol the tank '31. This slur wheel is so positioned on the :r-ahatt that its arms 92 will lie in the same horizontal plane occupied by the cau-suppn'tingz arms (i5 when the latter are t'lperalivcly engaged in eupporting cans, in; shown in Fig 3, so that said arms with one after another. pro ect directly across the path of travel otthe disks (Id constituting the end portions of said arms (15. From this it results that as each can passes beneath the disk Ill. the edge of its carrier lever \vill s1 rikc an arm of the star wheel and thereby turn the shaft 75 through a partial revolution. brin ing: one

of the measuring chambrrs into registration 9t] and discharge opening 0 l at once flows into the funnel-guide ill and is delivered by the latter into the can. In case, through irregular feeding of the cans to the machine. or for any other cause, a carrier fails to receive a can, it will travel around in the tilted position indicated in Fig 4. wherein the arm 65 is out of the plane of the star wheel. and conscuicntly the latter will not be struck. and the mcasurinp mechanism 31 will not be actuated to deliver a charge of syrup. It will thus be seen that the actuation of the delivery mechanism contained with the air pipe ST, whereupon the F'Vl'tll in the tank 31 is entirely dc wndcnt upon the universal carriers in that they are capable to thereby reduce or enlarge the capacity of said chambers, as desired.

Keyed or otherwise secured on the shaft of operating upon cans having a consider-- able range of variation in respect to height without requiring any adjustment. \Vithin the range permitted by the cooperating slows 72 and 73, the can-supporting arms of the lovers will rise under the action of the countor-weights to any extent necessary to carry the upper end of the cans into registration with the funnels or other can-engaging parts, and will hold said cans in such engagement with'a sufiicient upward pressure depending upon the gravity of the counter-weights and their positions on the inwardly extending arms of the levers, which pressure will be substantially the same with all heights of cans. As a further means of enabling the machine to handle cans of different heights, the spider 28 carrying the funnels 29 may be rendered vertically adjustable by means of a foot lever 93 (Fig. 2) pivoted at 94 to the base of the frame and underlying the. vertically ad'ustahle journal box in which the lower curl of the shaft 17 is stepped.

It being evident that the mechanism av described and shown may be modified it" respect to details of construction and relative arrangements of parts by those skilled in the art without affecting the substance of the invention or sacrificing an of the ad vantagcsthcreof, I do not limit the invention to the particular mechanism shown, except to the extent indicated in specific claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for operatin upon cans, the combination with a mova ilc carrying member. of a vertical] swinging can-supporting lever pivoted tliereto, means for in troducing a can above one arm of said lever, means acting upon the other arm of said lever normally tending to swing said lever into lifting engagement with the can, and means adapted to enga e and rock said le-ver out of engagement witlithe c'an at a redetermined point in the movement of sai movable carrying member, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for operating upon cans, the combination with a movable carrying member, of a vertieall swinging can-supporting lever pivoted t ereto, means -for introducing a can above one arm of said lever, a counterweight carried by the other arm of said le'ver normally tending to swing said leveiinto lifting engagement with the can, and

means for rocking said lever in opposition to the gravity efl'cctof said counterweight thereon, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for operating upon earns, the combination with a rotatable carrying member, of a series of verticallyl swinging can-supporting levers pivoted t ereto and dispose radially ther'coi, means for introducing cans at'a point above the path -of movement of the outer ends of said levers.

- counterweights carried hy the inner arms of said levers normally tending to swing said levers into lifting engagement with the cans. and means adapted to engage and rock said levers in opposition to the gravity efi'cct of said counterweights whereby to release the cans, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for operating upon cans, the combination with a movable carrying member, of a can-supporting lever pivota'lly connected to said carrying member so as to swing in a vertical plane, a counter-weight carried by and swinging said lever into can: engaging gaging said lever in a manner to withdraw it from the can, substantially as described. I

In a machine for operating upon cans, the combination witlra rotary spider carr ing; a series of devices adapted to engage t e tops of cans, of an underlying rotary spider position, and a fixed cam-track en carrying a corresponding series of radially disposed counter weighted can support iug levers pivotally ung from the periphery thereof so as to swing in vertical planes and automatically engage and raise the cans into registration with said can-engaging devices, a ean-rcceivin and discharging plate lo cated in the pat l of travel of the can engaging arms of said levers, and a. cam-track engaged by said levers'toswing the can-engaging arms of the latter beneath s'a'id plate, substantially as described.

6. In a canfilling'machine, the combination'with a measuring and filling mechanism, of an actuating device therefor, and a movable can supporting and carrying device adapted, when carrying a can, to engage and operate said actuating device, and when idle to pass the latter without actuating the same, substantially as described.

7. In mean-filling machine, the combination with a'measuring and filling mechanism,

of an actuating device therefor, and a bodily movable pivoted can supporting an carrying device adapted, when carrying a can, to enfiage and operate said actuating device, an when idle to pass the latter without ac tu'ating the same, substantially as described.

8. In a pan-filling machine, the combination with a measuring and filling mechanism, of a bodily movable pivoted can-supporting and carrying device, and an actuating device for said measuring and filling mechanism projecting into the path of movement of said can-supporting and carryingdevice when the latter iscarryln a can, but disposed to one side of the path of movement of said cansupporting and carrying device when the latteris idle, substantially as described.

9. Ina can-filling machinefthe combination with a measuring and fillin mechanisgnai an actuating shaft therefor, an a star wh on said shaft, of a movable can-supporting and carryingidevice adapted, when earl-yin a can, to contact and turn said star w tee and when idle to pass the latter without ac- I tuatin the same, substantially as described.

10. n a can-filling machine, the COlI'lblIlll tion with a measuring and filling mechanism, an actuating shaft therefor, and a star wheel on said shaft, of a bodily movable pivoted can-supporting and carrying lever adapted, when earryin" acan, to contact and turn said star who and when idle to pass the latter without actuating the same, subsumtially as descri ed.

11. In a can filling machine. the combination with a measuring and filling mechan ism, an actuati shaft therefor, and a star wheel on said 5 aft, of a rotary member having a plurality ofieount'er-vi'eighted cansupporting'and carrying levers pivoted thereto, said levers being so-positioned that, when t1 travel to one side of the latter, substantially I ally thereof, of a rotary carrier having canas described. engaging devices adapted to take the cans 12. In a can-filling machine, the combinafrom said late, a series of ins-hers adapted tion with a rotary measuring and fillin mechanism, an aetuatin qhaft therefor, an a star wheel on said sha trf'af a rotary member having a plurality of counter-weighted can-supporting and carrying levers pivoted thereto. said levers being pivoted to swing in vertical planes and so positioned relatively to said star wheel that, when carrying a can, thcv will contact and turn said rtar wheel and when idle they will pass over the latter, sulwtantially as described.

l t. In a machine for operating upon cans, the emnbination with a feeding-in mtltlltllb ism and a support upon which the cans are received from said feeding-in mechanism, of a carrier having can-engaging devices adaptcd take the cans from said support, and means for accurately centering said cans while on said support'nrior to their recep tion by said can-engaging devices, substantially as (.lt'ntl'lllttl.

14. In a machine for operat ng upon cans, the combination with a. cairreeeiving plate and. a feeding-in mechanism disposed radito contact t 9 cans on one Flt e when received on said plate, and a yieldable member overlying the path of the cans on said plate and adapted to yieldingly press said cans from the opposite side against said pus-hers where- 'by to center the cans, substantially as described.

15. In a machine for operating upon cans, the combination with a canreceivin e' plate and a feeding-in mechanism disposed radially thereof, of a rotary carrier having canengaging'dcvices adapted to take the cans from said plate, a series of pushers having concave can-eontactin sides overriding Said plate, and a fri'ctiona y retarded star wheel the arms whereof overlie said plate and are contacted by the cans as the latter are advanced by said puehers. whereby said cans are centered, aubatantially as described.

GEORGE G. GLASS;

\Vitnesscs:

Hunnn N. Pom), l 'iuannaicit C. Goonwm. 

